The Silent Epidemic and the Fight for Justice in Sagwara

In May 2024, eight widows from the Bhil community of Sagwara awaited a meeting with the District Collector of Dungarpur. Desperation marked their faces as they sought help after losing their husbands to a disease they had not heard of until recently. These young women, now left to care for minor children, found it impossible to work and sustain their households. For months, they had knocked on the doors of various government offices, seeking aid. These young women lost their husbands to a disease which was unknown to them till a couple of months back, until the young members of the Eklavya Bhil Mazdoor Sangathan from Sagwara informed them that, they had died due to silicosis.

Sagwara is a small town in the Dungarpur district of southern Rajasthan, with a significant Bhil tribal population. Difficult terrain for agriculture and the lack of vocational skills or alternative sources of employment have pushed generations to migrate in search of work and engage in stone carving work. For over three decades, Sagwara has seen a steady stream of migration to Pindwara, a block in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan, approximately 200 kilometres away. One of the largest hubs for the stone-carving industry in India, Pindwara’s workers are known for their imprint on temples across the country and abroad, including the Akshardham. The Eklavya Bhil Mazdoor Sangathan (hereupon referred to as the collective) estimates that between two to three thousand workers from Sagwara are employed in the stone carving industry in Pindwara and Gujarat’s Idar.

In the early 2000s, stone carving units came to be established in Sagwara itself. Of the units set up thus far, only one is formally registered. Four unregistered units operate as informal subsidiaries of the same company. The collective estimates that the local stone carving industry in Sagwara employs about 1500 workers. A small share of these workers are migrants from Odisha.

Why are workers drawn to this industry? Like in any other poverty-ridden society, it is money and the struggle for survival that pushes people here despite its dark characteristics. The stone carving industry offers higher wages than the construction sector. According to the collective, novices earn about 400 rupees per day, while skilled and experienced workers earn around 750 rupees per day.

The pervasive informality in the industry results in workers having no assured social security benefits. Even in the sole registered factory, workers report obscure modes of payment, where wages are often deposited in a co-worker’s account. This practice curtails workers’ ability to establish a clear employer-employee relationship. While official records indicate that the unit employs only 250 workers, according to collective members who have worked there, the actual workforce exceeds 500 people.

Mechanisation began to surge in Sagwara’s stone carving industry over a decade ago. Subsequently, with the use of mechanised tools for processes like cutting and carving leading to a higher amount of silica-laden dust being released into the air, workers started developing severe respiratory issues, which were initially misdiagnosed as asthma and tuberculosis.

Vasudev, a Sagwara resident, who worked as an electrician in a local government hospital, began noticing this trend. During the time, through his engagement with Aajeevika Bureau, a labour welfare-oriented NGO, Vasudev came to realise that the disease, which was pervasive amongst men in Sagwara, was neither tuberculosis nor asthma, but silicosis, an incurable occupational disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust. At the time, Aajeevika was working with a stone carvers’ collective in Pindwara, where silicosis was just as prevalent.

Recognizing the magnitude of the problem and the need for collective effort, Vasudev initiated the formation of a union. The Eklavya Bhil Mazdoor Sangathan, composed of former stone carving workers and youth from the community, was formed a year later, in September 2023. Today, the collective is working tirelessly to raise awareness within the Bhil community about occupation-induced silicosis, challenging the fatalistic attitude that was once common.

To enhance accessibility and support for silicosis-affected individuals, the collective regularly facilitates silicosis detection camps, inviting hundreds of workers. They assist in registering silicosis patients on the state’s official portal, linking their bank accounts with Rajasthan’s Jan Aadhaar (a unique identification number for all residents of the state) account for rehabilitation assistance and pensions. Additionally, they file petitions for quicker processing of delayed applications and correct errors in beneficiary assignments.

The collective estimates that over 150 silicosis-induced deaths have occurred in Sagwara. Though unofficial, this figure underscores the severe impact on stone carving workers. Through the collective’s efforts, 93 silicosis cases have been officially identified. However, many more applications are rejected. The collective believes that budget constraints drive these rejections, as the state policy does not hold the industry financially liable for the rehabilitation of silicosis-affected workers. They also believe that doctors are not on the same page when it comes to identification, pointing out frequent misdiagnosis. While Rajasthan’s Pneumonoconiosis Policy of 2019 includes provisions for training doctors in using the ILO Classification of chest radiographs, implementation remains inconsistent.

Until recently, doctors did not inquire about occupational history, leading to misdiagnoses of tuberculosis or asthma. The collective’s discussions with doctors have improved diagnostic approaches by encouraging the inclusion occupational history in evaluations. Additionally, their community awareness drives have led some workers and contractors to withdraw from the industry.

Furthermore, the state silicosis policy lacks clarity regarding certifying applications when the patient dies during or before the process, even if valid X-rays are available. This ambiguity is what had led the collective to the Collector’s office in Dungarpur after eight widows were denied the aid guaranteed by the policy. However, their request was dismissed in under a minute, on the grounds that their husbands had not been certified before their death.   

The collective argues that officials neglect both rehabilitation and prevention. Workers report that protective measures are woefully inadequate, consisting only of a mask. Highlighting an instance when an inspection was conducted on a holiday when no workers were present, the collective speaks of how industries benefit from the lack of formal inspections and disregard for occupational safety and health.

In a tripartite meeting with the SDM of Sagwara, employers, and the union, no progress was made on preventive measures. Requests for worksite inspections by the labour department have been ignored, allowing unregistered industries to continue operating. The collective is contemplating shifting gears and moving from requests to protests but hesitates due to its nascent stage and lack of alternative employment options for workers.

Young men from Silicosis-affected families continue to choose hazardous industries due to a lack of alternative livelihood skills. The collective suggests addressing this through active labour market policies, focusing on employee-intensive small and medium-scale industries, and skill training for affected family members in place of meagre pensions.

However, the collective notes that generating alternative sources of livelihood in hubs like Sagwara or Pindwara would not mean an end to the problem. Given the never-ending demand for temples and similar structures, if the industry faces labour shortages, it will simply relocate to another location where poverty and employment shortage drives people into hazardous work. Addressing this complex issue requires mandatory registration of all stone carving industries under the Factories Act, coupled with stringent enforcement of occupational safety measures. It is crucial that employers and factory owners register all labour deployed, and ensure coverage under ESI and PF schemes. To effectively tackle these multifaceted challenges and ensure occupational safety, the pivotal role of workers’ unions cannot be undermined. Collaborative efforts between unions, grassroots organizations, and political parties are essential for collective action and raising awareness among stakeholders.

The collective also highlights that delays in the processing of applications have led to the emergence of private agents charging exorbitant fees, up to 25,000 rupees, with false promises of expedited benefits. Further, delays in certification and delivery of assistance, often pushes desperate families to cover medical expenses by selling property.

The collective asserts that neglecting the villain of the story – the industry – and not holding it accountable is a critical flaw in Rajasthan’s silicosis policy. The policy must compel industries to bear responsibility for the prevention and early detection of silicosis and contribute significantly to the rehabilitation fund.

Despite bureaucratic hurdles, the collective remains steadfast in its mission to achieve justice for every silicosis-affected family in Sagwara. They urge stakeholders and citizens to join their cause to hold industries accountable and ensure unambiguous state policies to prevent bureaucratic discretion from denying justice to victims. With a collective effort, they believe silicosis can be eradicated and justice is assured for those affected.

Vignesh M is a senior research associate with Aajeevika Bureau. He has done his masters in public policy from National Law School of India University, Bangalore. Currently, he is doing research on migration profiling in southern Rajasthan and the impact of legal aid on informal sector workers.

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